{"record":{"id":"a2152edcbc7845ff","repo":"stride3d/stride","slug":"could-not-find-a-serializer-for-type-typeof-t","errorCode":null,"errorMessage":"Could not find a serializer for type {typeof(T)}","messagePattern":"Could not find a serializer for type (.+?)","errorType":"exception","errorClass":"InvalidOperationException","httpStatus":null,"severity":"error","filePath":"sources/core/Stride.Core.Serialization/Serialization/Contents/DataContentSerializer.cs","lineNumber":36,"sourceCode":"    {\n        dataSerializerHelper.Serialize(context, stream, obj);\n    }\n}\n\npublic class DataContentSerializerHelper<T>\n{\n    private DataSerializer<T>? dataSerializer;\n\n    public void Serialize(ContentSerializerContext context, SerializationStream stream, T obj)\n    {\n        // Get serializer\n        // Note: Currently registered serializer is the content reference one\n        // However, we would like to serialize the actual type here\n        if (dataSerializer == null)\n        {\n            var dataSerializerType = DataSerializerFactory.GetSerializer(\"Default\", typeof(T)).SerializerType;\n            if (dataSerializerType == null)\n                throw new InvalidOperationException($\"Could not find a serializer for type {typeof(T)}\");\n            dataSerializer = (DataSerializer<T>)Activator.CreateInstance(dataSerializerType)!;\n            dataSerializer.Initialize(stream.Context.SerializerSelector);\n        }\n\n        // Serialize object\n        stream.SerializeExtended(ref obj, context.Mode, dataSerializer);\n    }\n}\n","sourceCodeStart":18,"sourceCodeEnd":45,"githubUrl":"https://github.com/stride3d/stride/blob/96fad776d210c221682aac1ccdf4c79dc046fc38/sources/core/Stride.Core.Serialization/Serialization/Contents/DataContentSerializer.cs#L18-L45","documentation":"DataContentSerializer<T>.Serialize looks up a DataSerializer for type T. When none is registered and DataSerializerFactory.GetSerializer cannot resolve a default serializer type for T, the library throws because it cannot know how to write T to the stream.","triggerScenarios":"Serializing a type T that has no registered DataSerializer and no generated/default serializer (e.g. a custom class without [DataSerializer] or serializer registration) via ContentManager.Save or a serialization stream.","commonSituations":"Adding a new custom type to an asset without registering a DataSerializer; renaming/moving a type so the generated serializer no longer matches; serializing types not intended to be persisted (e.g. runtime-only services).","solutions":["Register a DataSerializer for T with the serialization system (or add [DataSerializer] and let the source generator produce one)","Implement a custom DataSerializer<T> and register it via DataSerializerFactory / serializer registration","Change the asset field to a serializable type that has a registered serializer"],"exampleFix":"// before\npublic class MyData { public int X; } // no serializer\n// after\n[DataSerializerGlobal]\npublic class MyDataSerializer : DataSerializer<MyData>\n{\n    public override void Serialize(ref MyData obj, ArchiveMode mode, SerializationStream stream)\n        => stream.Serialize(ref obj.X);\n}","handlingStrategy":"validation","validationCode":"var hasSerializer = DataSerializerFactory.GetSerializer(\"Default\", typeof(T)).SerializerType != null;\nif (!hasSerializer) throw new InvalidOperationException($\"No DataSerializer registered for {typeof(T)}\");","typeGuard":null,"tryCatchPattern":"try { contentManager.Save(url, asset); }\ncatch (InvalidOperationException ex) when (ex.Message.Contains(\"Could not find a serializer\")) { // register serializer or fix type\n}","preventionTips":["Register a DataSerializer (or [DataSerializerGlobal]) for every custom type stored in assets","Only put serializable types in asset fields","Test asset save/load round-trips in CI"],"tags":["serialization","missing-serializer"],"backgroundTag":"missing-dependency","analyzedSha":"96fad776d210c221682aac1ccdf4c79dc046fc38","analyzedAt":"2026-09-14T02:59:31.279Z","contentChangedAt":"2026-09-14T02:59:31.279Z","schemaVersion":2},"datasetVersion":"2026-09-15T23:17:13.987Z"}